Man City 'started contacts' to sign £35m French international who could replace John Stones

With less than a week before the start of the Premier League season, Pep Guardiola will be keen to get any more deals done to help bolster his Manchester City squad before players inevitably get injured and fatigued from regular game time.

City have had to replace ageing players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, and Kyle Walker; however, some of Guardiola’s squad are still core players, who will need to be replaced in time with younger alternatives.

The centre-back position is contentious with John Stones still one of Guardiola’s first-choice defenders, at the age of 31. He struggled with injuries last season, and it now seems that City are looking to sign a younger centre-back who can help cover for John Stones.

Man City ‘started contacts’ for Lukeba

City have reportedly identified a defender who can help to replace Stones in the long-term, as they have an interest in RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba, who, at the age of 22, could become Guardiola’s starter in the future. This season, he could help cover for Stones to prevent any injury.

This was reported on X by transfers journalist Rudy Galetti, who said: “RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba has emerged as a target for Manchester City. The English club has started contacts to explore the potential terms of the deal.”

Lukeba has an estimated market value of around £35m, and was a key member of Leipzig’s squad last season. He made 31 appearances at both centre-back and left-back, making him a versatile defender who would suit Guardiola’s fluid style of line-up in defence.

He has also made six appearances for the French national team, and at just over six foot, is a physical, yet quick defender, who could be vital in stopping pacey opposing strikers and wingers.

Guardiola wants a fit John Stones this year

Whether or not Man City manage to sign a new centre-back to help cover for Stones, the 31-year-old remains a key player for Guardiola, due to both his experience and leadership at the back.

Last season, Stones made just 20 appearances for City, including only 11 in the Premier League, due to ongoing injury problems. Ahead of the new season, Guardiola emphasised just how important it is for Stones to be fit this year if they are to win the league title over Liverpool and Arsenal.

Guardiola told Man City’s official website: “In the years of the Treble and quadruple, John Stones was massively important for us. He is a top-class player but last season he played less than 30 per cent of the games for us. He was injured for a lot of time. What we want is for him to be fit. We have good central defenders, but we need him.”

Stones started in City’s final pre-season match, which was a convincing 3-0 win against Italian side Palermo. He played the first half before being replaced at half time by Manuel Akanji, but he certainly is in line to start in City’s first game of the season against Wolves on Saturday 16 August.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano: Tottenham make shock move for Man City star as talks opened for gem with 'something special’.